Interview with Amelia Ceja

President, Co-Founder & Executive Chef at Ceja Vineyards

Over some great food and wine at the Ceja Vineyards' tasting room in Carneros, we sat down to interview Amelia Ceja, Head Chef and hostess of the Salud! Napa cooking show. 

What aspect of food preparation brings you the most joy?
Putting all the ingredients together and uncovering the various flavor profiles.

How did you learn to cook?
I started hanging out in the kitchen with Mamá Chepa, my maternal grandmother, when I was three years old. And, she taught me the essence of cooking.

What’s the dish that you most like to cook?
Soups -- they are comforting and nurture your spirit.

What advice do you have for people experimenting with food and wine pairing?
Close your eyes and listen to your palate -- there is room at the table for wine regardless of what the menu is as long as the wine is balanced.

What’s on your to-do list?
I would like to write a cookbook.

What is the difference, if any, between the Amelia from Ceja Vineyards and the Amelia from Salud! Napa?
There is no difference -- I'm the same devoted and passionate person that enjoys wine with world cuisine.

What’s your most cherished family tradition and why?
Preparing Dungeness crab Indonesian style for my family every November.

What three people would you most like to have dinner with?
Mama Chepa, my maternal grandmother, Frida Kahlo and the Dalai Lama.

What’s something people might be surprised to know about you?
I was a tomboy -- in my village, girls were not encouraged to do sports, yet, I never listened. I played baseball, soccer, and learned how to race horses and ride a bicycle with all the boys of my village.

What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to do but still haven’t?
I've been to Oaxaca and I want to spend at least one month there taking cooking classes.

Do you have any special sayings or expressions?
"I'm my children's biggest fan," and "my parents are my heroes."

What would you say is the most important thing for living a good life?
Being at peace with myself.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TUNE IN! This Saturday, March 14^th at 11:30am, Amelia will be interviewed on Dining Around with Gene Burns, broadcast on KGO Radio-AM 810 live from the 2009 Napa Valley Mustard Festival. Listen in from 10am-1pm for the full show!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


We look forward to start shooting the cooking show episodes and sharing them with you all!

¡Salud!

Ariel y Anna